Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Vintage pillowcase? No, a shopping bag!

Take a vintage pillowcase. Cut like so. Make the handle by sewing a seam, joining the two sides of the 'handle' together. Use your iron to turn over and pin a hem on your raw edges. Sew. Press. It could be as easy as that.

I have been using some of the scrap pillowcase fabric to fashion a little inner pocket and using a soft velcro to stop it from gaping and keep your purse/phone secure. Oh, and i box the bottom corners to give it a little shape. I love mine and use it all the time. It folds down tiny.

This is the top few of a pile of these shopping bags waiting for the markets. And etsy.

For Aucklanders, the annual Piha Labour Day market is on, yup, you guessed it, Labour Day...this coming Monday, the 25th of October. 10-2pm. Held at Barnett Hall and carpark at North Piha, its a lovely day out. Good food, coffee and loveliness, plus second hand rummaging to be done. I'm in the back left hand corner of the hall, come say hi. Last few stalls available, contact me if you want one.

Update from 2012: I posted a full tutorial for transforming your vintage pillowcase into a bag HERE. Enjoy!

And thanks for stopping by. So very many of you have said hello from this page...so lovely. xxUpdate from 2013: Hi all, great to have so many of you stick around for more GrowMama designs and adventures and YES! I have put a Pinterest button on to make it easier for you to share. Stay tuned for another pillowcase bag giveaway...x

Hi anonymous...you know, i tried this and i just didn't use the little pouch...i'm a simple person really...i just fold the bag. The pouch ended up being used to house various treasures my little boy found when out and about!

he he...i like the way your mind works! My first version of this design involved using bias binding for the seam finishing, then i realised it was unnecessary and looked a cleaner finish folding over the hem and sewing. You can certainly try pinking shears and knotting the handle, let me know how you get on.

Hi there, thanks for pointing this fancy sewing jargon out, i try for my work to be accesible to learners but slip up sometimes. Check out this tutorial (aint the internet an awesome thing...here i was thinking i would do a tutorial but it's been done...hoorah!) ... she walks you through boxing: http://craftapple.wordpress.com/2007/09/01/sewing-tip-squarely-boxing-those-corners/

I love this idea! The county I live in just started charging $0.05 per plastic bag and I can't stand spending $1.00 on the reusable ones, especially since they have been tearing on me lately. I've been trying to find a cheaper alternative and this is it! Thanks so much!

Great...seems you found my idea/tutorial at exactly the right time too. I love it when that happens. I find my vintage pillowcase shopping bags to be very strong too. You can even use a long sleeve t shirt, sew the bottom hem together and knot the sleeves as the handle. Love to see pics of yours when you make 'em. all the best, anissa

Thank you so much for commenting and letting me know you liked my project. I try and let folks know when i have been inspired by their work too. Wait for all comments you'll get with your new shopping bags...xx!

ooh, i was thinking of doing a denim one with the vintage pillowcase lining for library bag...we always have a gazillion books and they are heavy, but i like the idea of solid and print cases together too. let me know how you get on.x

So cute. Going to pull out my stash and make some for toting things back and forth to school (I am a teacher). Could I suggest that hemming those raw edges would be easier if done BEFORE making the handle seam, while you can spread it out a little flatter. Then cover the handle seam by stitching a piece of wide bias tape over it, stitching along both edges of the tape on the wrong side of the handle only, and leaving ends long enough to make a loop that is loose on the top side to hang the bag on a hook? by the front door? so you don't forget it?

Maybe one of your parents is a sewer who could whip some of these up for you?! When i edged my first prototype of these pillowcase bags with bias tape i hadnt thought of leaving the loop...love to see it in action if you make some. Might be a good beginner project? I teach workshops and this is one of the first things folks can make. x

I love this. In my elusive search for great pillow cases, I now have lots of them and most of them I don't like for their original purpose, a pillow case. Now, I have this great bag I can make with all of them. Thank you SO muçh fo this GREAT idea. You are a genius!!

Love this idea!!! Just cleaned out my linen closet and was wondering what to do with all the pillow cases!!! Wonderful Idea!! Thanks again! Also thought I could use these bags as liners for knitted or crocheted purses, so easy!!!

Great Idea!!! As a teacher, I am thinking of using these as book bags for the kids! I am NOT a sewer though, so we'll have to see if I can figure it out. You should def. put a tutorial on youtube or something- a from start to finish, so us "newbies" can see how it's done. THanks for sharing!!

Oh good idea about the you tube tutorial...i am a bit shy about it (even though i give workshops and talks all the time i still feel funny about you tube) but i would like to do it for sure. I'll put it on the list! I need a technical support person - that is also on the list. x

you'd be surprised how much room is inside even with standard size pillowcases...i use mine for a book bag, swimming bag or beach bag too. They are strong too...i have one that is lined/reversible (using two pillowcases) but none of single layer bags have ripped or failed me yet...even with all our gazillion library books!

Hi Lori, someone else asked about boxing corners and i apologised for not being clear: there is a link here that explains it nicely. It is very easy really and has a great effect. See what you think. x anissa

You said there is a link "here" for boxed corners. I don't see it. Where is "here"? I would love to try this but I don't know how to do a boxed corner either. Would you send me a link? Tongiefarm@aol.com?? Do you mind?

I just found this on Pinterest today, and I'm bookmarking it so I can find it again. We've made several grocery bags so far, but none from pillowcases. And since I do sew, I know how to box the bottom - but it's nice that you were able to share a tutorial for it. Thanks so much!!

I found you via Pinterest too, and you are in Auckland like me! Awesome! Made my first reversible bag today during kids nap time. After 3hrs of sewing and unpicking it was finally done - very stoked, and I reckon next time I can do it in 30 minutes. Thanks for the awesome idea! Would love to know where you get your sheets from, but I know if someone asked me that I would be reluctant to share ;)

hey...welcome! Just think, we might pass on the street tomorrow?! Love to see results of your reversible bag making if you feel like emailing. And vintage sheets and pillowcases? I am the op shopping queen. No particular thrift shop, it is down to luck and timing. But, they get harder and harder to find in Auckland. good luck with the hunt!

Absolutely love this! I have always thought it a shame that very few people get to see pretty pillow cases. I think it would be an AWESOME craft for my daughters birthday party and they'll have their own bag to carry their goodies home in.

This is a great idea! I'm a single parent, homeschool mom, and run my own online businesses. I don't have time for big involved craft projects. But this seems so simple, even I could do a few very quickly. THANKS!

Hi Debbie, i hear you on the busyness...my life sounds similar to yours now. But i am always up for a simple upcycling project and this one is super easy! Scroll up to the above comments for links to step by step tutorial/s. xxanissa

Hi Sarah...i just popped over to your blog. We did have the same pillowcase/sheets! I have never seen anything like it here in NZ. Love what you crafted with yours! I often use vintage sheets for making clothes and other items...they are such great designs and new fabric can be so expensive. xx

Hello from Minnesota. I like this tutorial. It is under the "who knew" column of craft ideas. One toss in the wash makes it healthy and cleans up any spills in the bag. Thank you! I have old pillow cases with the decorative edging. I think that I will sew up the bottom stitchery and cut the exiting hem for the handle. I just can't toss the pretty part. Thanks for sharing!

You are so welcome, I get a kick thinking about how many of these bags there are in the world now...many tens of thousands of people have seen this tutorial now. Love to see a pic of yours, link if you post it somewhere! x

ooooh, I like your idea...kids would love to decorate their own bags. To give it that more professional touch and so it won't matter if they need to start again, they could draw on a separate piece of fabric and sew it on. love it! Going to file that one away for a (literal) rainy day, thanks!

Hi Sam! Let me know how you and Evie get on. It must be time for a wee op shop trawl together again hey?! I am amazed it is still being shared on Pinterest...so many people! I got told off today by a blog reader...who berated me for not making more of a go of GrowMama. It might be that it's time has come! xx

You could take the extra cut of fabric, sew it inside out to the inside to create a pocket and it will fold into itself more compact for storing, and doubles as a pocket to hold your phone/list/wallet while you shop :-) love the idea btw, super upcycle!

Good thinking. I have done this on one of mine but wanted to keep the tutorial simple. Many folks use it as a first project. But folks are using this as a start and embellishing in all sorts of ways, wonderful!

If you follow the tutorial step by step, I reckon you'll work it out, otherwise take some pics on your phone and email them to me and tell me where you got stuck. I'll see if I can help you out. I bet you'll be fine though. x

Kia Ora. I'm Anissa. I live by a wild surf beach in New Zealand. I'm a writer and a homeschooling mama who believes in good food, dancing wildly, creating a world we all want to live in, connected parenting, handmade goodness and the power of kindness.
Thanks for being here!